Device for sweeping floors



D. S. HENDERSON ET AL DEVICE FOR SWEEPING FLOORS Filed Sept. 25 1923 Patented May 13, 1924.

STATES DUNCAN S. HENDERSON AND WILLIAM F. HESTER, 0F MQCOLL, SOUTH CAROLINA.

DEVICE FOR SWEEPING FLOORS.

Application filed September 25, 1923. Serial Ho. 664,726.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DUNCAN S. HENDER- SON and WILLIAM F. Hnsrnn, citizensof the United States, residing at McColl, in the county of Marlboro and State of South Carolina, have invented anew and useful Device for Sweeping Floors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to floor sweepers and the object thereof is to provide an article of this character having bristle carrying jaws which may be opened and closed to vary the area traversed.

Another object is to provide a sweeper of this character constructed to be pushed forwardly and having hinged jaws equipped with scissor-like operating handles for opening and closing the jaws.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the sweeper constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with the jaws in open position; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, a pair of jaws 1 and 2 are shown hingedly connected at their rear ends as shown at 8. These jaws are preferably constructed of two strips 4 and 5 secured together in any suitable manner and having their ends inclined rearwardly as shown at 6. The inner strip 1 is provided at its rear end with an upstanding flange or extension 7 preferably made integral therewith and to the outer face of each flange 7 near its front end is secured a handle. 8. The front ends of these handles rest on the upper edges of the outer bars 5 and the handles are inclined rearwardly and intersect each other midway their ends being arranged in superposed relation and pivotally connected by a bolt 9 forming a scissorlike construction so that when the handles are moved toward each other the jaws 1 and 2 will move correspondingly in the same direction and the movement of the handles away from each other will correspondingly open the jaws.

The extensions or flanges 7 are hingedly connected at their rear ends as shown at 3.

Bristles 10 are secured to the lower faces of the jaws 1 and 2 and may be composed of any suitable material, fine wire being here shown.

This sweeper is especially designed for the use of porters and the like in cleaning up the floors of large buildings, the jaws 1 and 2 being designed to be opened and moved forward so as to cleanse a large area in a single operation. The beveled ends 6 of the jaws adapt them to enter corners and when brought together these ends will fit into a corner and draw out the dirt.

Various changes in the form, shape, proportion and other minor details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention.

We claim 1. A sweeper of the class described, composed of bristle carrying jaws hingedly connected at one end and having scissor-like operating handles pivoted together intermediate their ends and secured to the jaws in advance of their hinged connection.

2. A sweeper of the class described comprising a pair of jaws hingedly connected at their rear ends and each composed of parallel strips arranged side by side and secured together, one of said strips having an upstanding flange adjacent said hinged connection, handles fixed to said flanges and inclined upwardly and rearwardly and intersecting each other intermediate their ends. said handles being arranged in superposed relation and pivotally connected at their point of intersection, the front ends of said handles resting on the upper edges of one of said strips.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aiiixed our signatures.

DUNCAN S. HENDERSON. WILLIAM F. HESTEB. 

